<BR>Ballerina tossing<P><BR>First impressions. <P>A ballet of two halves: a classical Act I and a cool Act II. It wasn't so much a ballet as a musical revue in dance. Think "Fosse" except with taped music and non-singing performers (Interestingly, Fosse was a former boss of Michael Smuin). <P>It was very entertaining to watch, if you're not a diehard ballet fan. The classical portion of the ballet had several spectacular sequences, including some amazing ballerina-tossing, but it wasn't compelling throughout. <P>The second half was even more entertaining, with dances done to musical favorites, like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Santa Baby, and even included a hula number. <P>The star of the show? Most would vote for Roberto Cisneros, a 12-year old sensation well-versed in several forms of dance and acting. This kid is good (Check out the <A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/000296.html" TARGET=_blank>thread</A> on him).

The SF Examiner puts it succinctly:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B><A HREF="http://63.78.169.150/style/default.jsp?story=art.smuin.12080000" TARGET=_blank>'Christmas Ballet' shows Smuin is man in the middle</A></B><BR>By Rachel Howard, SF Examiner<P>You have to make a decision when you go to see a Smuin Ballets/SF performance: Do I hush all those nagging voices in the back of my mind and just enjoy this like everyone else? Or do I take the snob stance, and stick to my high art guns?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><B><A HREF="http://63.78.169.150/style/default.jsp?story=art.smuin.12080000" TARGET=_blank>More</A></B><p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited December 10, 2000).]

A review from the Chronicle.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Smuin's 'Christmas' a plum of a ballet <BR>Pure entertainment mixes old and new<P>Octavio Roca, Chronicle Dance Critic Friday, December 14, 2001 <BR> <BR>There is really no such thing as too rich, too sweet, even too much when it comes to holiday treats. That is precisely what Michael Smuin's "Christmas Ballet" is, so let's just say it is delicious.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/12/14/DD23907.DTL&type=performance" TARGET=_blank><B>more...</B></A>

And from the Mercury News.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>For those that are not nuts about nutcrackers <P>By Janet Lynn Roseman<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><u><B>more...</B></u><P>[This link has expired]<p>[This message has been edited by Admin (edited July 18, 2002).]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>For those that are not nuts about nutcrackers</B><P>Janet Lynn Roseman, Ang Newspapers<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><u><B>More</B></u><P>[This link has expired]<p>[This message has been edited by Admin (edited July 18, 2002).]

Smuin Ballet/SF<BR>The Christmas Ballet<P>Yerba Buena Center<BR>December 18, 2001<P>Michael Smuin's middle name is diversity. This is a choreographer who one week is working on the new "Star Wars" film, the next week is in New York retooling some revival, and the next week is back in San Francisco creating a new ballet for his small company. "The Christmas Ballet" is a good example of the two things Smuin does the best: classical ballet and crowd-pleasing fluff.<P>The first act, entitled "Classic Christmas", is a series of pieces using the music of Bach, Corelli, Palestrina, Mozart and traditional carols, with a little of klezmer thrown in for good measure. Dressed all in white, the dancers performed Smuin's own brand of ballet, which stays on the more contemporary style, with innovative partnering (some high flying ballerinas) and clear lines. Some of the partnering was shaky and insecure, suggesting that the dancers could have used some more rehearsal time. Stand out performances included Celia Fushille-Burke in several solos (what beautiful feet!) and youngster Roberto Cisneros. This kid showed more solid technique and confidence than the two seasoned professionals flanking him did.<P>Between acts was a short bonus performance by pianist John Bayless. This heir-apparent to Liberace, entertained the audience with a few showy Christmas tune medleys, a bawdy song and an impromptu rendition of Silver Bells in the style of Rachmaninoff.<P>Michael Smuin isn't called Mr. Showbiz for nothing. The second act, "The Cool Christmas", was really more of a series vignettes than a collection of dances. There was a little of everything a "Revelations" tribute, a couple of sexy numbers, a silly hula ditty complete with shark and surfboard, a little lindy hop, a little mambo, a little Riverdance, a couple of tap numbers, and Roberto Cisneros to fulfill the cute factor. Music was provided by Louis Armstrong, Eartha Kitt, Willie Nelson, Lou Rawls, Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby and other American icons. Michael Smuin has his finger on the pulse of pop culture, and in a just few images you know exactly what he is doing. In this most accessible of acts, he used every cliche in the book, and we all loved it.<P>This is not high art. This is not some deep exploration of an obscure movement concept. It is simply lovely dancers doing pretty steps to fun music. It is salve for our collectively aching soul. It is exactly what is needed to put us into a happy holiday mood. I hope it's around for a while.<BR>

Smuin finds way to keep DeSerio at the barre By Jeanne Fogler, STAFF WRITER JOHN DeSerio says Michael Smuin has saved his dance career two times.

First when DeSerio was in junior high school and was ready to quit dancing. His teacher, Raya Lee, had left Berkeley Ballet Theater, where DeSerio had been studying for several years.

DeSerio's father and Smuin had a mutual friend, and Smuin suggested John Take a class with him. So every Friday the young dancer joined his classes.

The second time came when DeSerio, getting restless at the Oakland Ballet, was just about ready to give it all up for academic life. Smuin stepped in by surprising him with an offer to join his company.

Michael Smuin's "Christmas Ballet" is the gift that keeps on giving, and this year's no exception. The latest edition of San Francisco's alternative to "Nutcracker" opened Wednesday night at the Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts.

Snobs, as before, are well advised to stay away. But everybody else who loves dance would do well to rush to Yerba Buena.

Frazzled holiday frenzy victims take note: If you need a little cheering up, and the "Nutcracker" isn't going to do it for you, check out Smuin Ballet's "The Christmas Ballet 2002," which continues through Dec. 29 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

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